EIL Intercultural Learning

Hi!

Half of my placement is over and the time to go home is approaching.  It does not even seem that I've been in Ghana for 5 weeks, more like 5 days...I wish I could stay for another 5 months!!!

Last week I did not do much of volunteering because strange disease spread in Kpando and almost every child in the orphanage was sick.  For my own health and safety I had to stay away for a week but now I am back to work.  It was long week...My room mate was diagnosed with typhoid and had to leave. It is nasty disease and I am very lucking that I didn't get it.  Thanks to vaccination!!!

Last time I promised to tell a bit more about education system in Ghana.  Ghanian education system is very simular to  the USA one.  Children attend 4 different schools: kindergarden, primary school, Junior High and Senior High.  It is also two tiered system.  The public schools are provided by the State but parents have to buy uniform and books for the children.  The private schools are for those children, whose parents can afford to pay for uniform and books as well as particular fee.  Private schools are more regulated and are checked more often than public.  For example a teacher in the public school may be late or not to come to work at all, and children will wait untill teacher comes but the teacher will still get salary. 

The major educational difference between Ghana and Ireland is that in Ghana teachers still use physical punishments.  I discussed this issue with my director and I was explained that it is not so common anymore as it used to be but some adults still consider it as most appropriate technique in teaching.

In general Ghanian perception to child rearing is very differnt to western one.  Ghanian parents believe that they have to be strict to their children in order to teach them how to become productive members of society.  This perception is extremely visible in my placement.  For example, the staff members believe that children in the orphanage need harsh discipline 'to straighten' them.  However, volunteers think that children need extra love.  We shared our ideas with other staff members but they described us being to soft that is why children can easily manipulate us.  For example when child is crying we would pick him/her up.  According to staff members in orphanage some children are crying on purpose becuase they want us to pick them up.

I am not in the position to judge who is right in who is wrong, the issue is that our cultures are different that is all.  The western countries tend to approach child rearing and bearing from authoritative parenting perspective, while Ghanians think that authoritarian is more appropriate.  It is understandable, as our lives are so different...  The issues present in Irish culture are absent in Ghanian and vica versa.